Thirteen years ago I wrote a letter to Fred Rogers thanking him for his creative work and loving presence, and how it had carried me through some awfully lonely times during childhood and early adolescence. About five years later my mother got a phone call to her home from a man asking to speak to me, and for a forwarding address. My mother was intrigued, since the voice sounded so familiar. And, of course, it was Fred Rogers. He said to her that he had received my letter and still had it in his desk drawer, and wanted to make sure he had actually replied. And he had.

Fred knew that play was consonant with prayer and meditation and creative work, and that what ailed many adults was its absence. Genuine play beseeches the soul because it is pure in its intention, and perhaps as open to God as the sincerest of prayers. This may be why there are so many closet adult Mr. Rogers fans.

I was iced in at home yesterday and fighting off the T.V., and losing, but looking for a PBS program like Nature or Nova or something to quell the cabin fever, and came across an episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood just beginning. He was talking about how toys had batteries but people and animals didn't, as we are alive and how wonderful and mysterious that is. I could tell this was one of the last broadcasts before his retirement last year, since his hair was quite grey, although his eyes still sparkled with unabashed delight. I thought, "I wonder how long he'll live. Nobody could fill those shoes. Fortunately families have thousands of episodes that will probably replay more often than MASH." Premonition or not, that was my last memory of him while he still lived bodily.

That's a fine story, w.c.

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street gave my wife and I many a much-needed break from small kids when ours were young. Often times, I'd find myself watching along and enjoying these shows. I was truck by how my kids would reply to Mr. Rogers' questions as though he were in the room--such a strong sense of personal presence!

I understand that he was an ordained minister, Presbyterian, I believe. His was a gift for communicating Gospel values to the young in many creative and effective ways.

-----

I miss Jim Henson also. In flipping through channels this weekend, I came upon an episode of Bert and Ernie (Sesame Street muppets) having one of their usual ENF / IST struggles, and Ernies' voice just didn't sound right. His mannerisms were spot-on, however; Jim Henson's legacy continues as well.

Wow. There�s little I can add to that other than to say that Mr. Rogers had such a deep respect for children that he changed so many of their lives for the better. He was proof that a whisper could be more effective than a shout. When I look at how MTV-like Sesame Street has become and how so many of the children�s programs seem to exist to do nothing more than sell toys, well, I�m just amazed and touched by the innate goodness and decency of this man. We were extremely lucky to have him as long as we did.